Bank-guard shield



March 22, 1927. 11,622,034

E. A. HAWKS BANK GUARD SHIELD Filed April 27, 1925 Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

T FFICE.

EDWARD A. HAWKS, OF DETROIT, IvEICI-IIGAN.

BANK-GUARD SHIELD.

Application filed April 27, 1925.

A large percentage of bank losses are attributed to bandits entering branch banks in the outlying districts of a city and escaping with funds. To prevent such robberies, I have devised a bullet-proof turret or guard 'shield that may be advantageously used in various kinds of banking institutions as a station for guards to prevent robberies.

The turrets or shields are adapted to be placed in a commanding position so that an armed guard may observe all bank customers and others and be prepared at all times to prevent robbery and probably capture the robbers. The turret or shield may be readily installed in banking institutions without any material change in a building, or may be constructed along with the building so as to harmonize with the interior finish of the same.

The construction of the turret or shield will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of the turret or shield;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a similar vie-w of a modified form of a turret or shield. As shown in Figure 1, the turret or shield is supported above a floor 1 and against a wall 2, there being floor uprights or posts 3 supporting a bottom frame 4, which has its ends extending into the wall 2, or suitably connected thereto, as at 5.

Mounted on the frame 4 is abottom plate or floor 6, and extending upwardly from this bottom plate is a turret or shield 7, substantially semi-cylindrical and adapted to pro ride a housing for a bank guard or attendant standing or resting on the bottom plate ('3. The vertical edges of the turret or shield 7 are in spaced relation to the wall 2, so as to provide side openings 8, one of which may be closed by avertical edge of the turret or shield extending to the wall 2, thereby leaving a single side entrance to the turret or shield.

Suitably attached to the upper end of the turret or shield 7 is a top frame 9 which has its ends mounted in the wall 2, or can Serial No. 26,116.

nected thereto. This top frame co-operates with the lower frame 6 in forming a rigid support for the turret or shield 7 made of bullet-proof metal, or a like material.

Adjacent the upper end of the turret or shield are a series of gun ports 11 which will permit of an armed guard aiming a gun in various directions. In lieu of the ports 11 there may be a horizontal slot 12, as shown in Figure 3, so that a gun barrel may be rapidly swung to cover any point about a bank floor.

Fig. 3 shows that the turret or shield may be substantially channel shaped in cross section, and suggests making the shield with one or more walls or facets.

A ladder 13 may be permanently located adjacent the turret or shield by having its lower end on the floor 1 and its upper end fixed in the wall 2. This ladder will permit a guard to easily enter the turret or shield, and in some instances, the ladder may be removable. Like all parts of the turret or shield, it may be made of strong and durable metal.

When a bank institution is being built, provision may be made for supporting the turret or shield without the uprights or posts 3, for instance, by the protruding ends of beams or girders. Then again, the turret or shield may be devoid of any side entrances and access had thereto through a side wall opening.

I attach considerable importance to the simplicity of construction and the fact that it may be easily and quickly installed in banking institutions already serving the public. lVith such a turret or shield in a prominent and commanding position, in the lobby of a bank, it will serve as a warning to robbers, and as a. safety station for a bank guard or watchman.

It is obvious that the turret or shield may be finished to harmonize with other bank fixtures, and while in the drawing there are illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the construction may be changed, as to size, shape and manner of assembling, without dfparting :Ei'iom the scope of the appended c arm,

hat I claim is frames, said shield having one vertical edge The combination with a Vertical Wall, of thereof abutting said wall and the other Verhorizontally superposed U-shaped frames tical edge spaced from said Wall to form a 10 having the ends thereof mounted in said doorway. 6 wall a bottom plate on the lowermost frame In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

and abutting said wall, and aiport'ed semicylindrica'l shield mounted between said EDWARD A. HAWKS. 

